The new year marks a grueling phase in European football, as January brings the Champions League first two rounds of matches in the expanded competition.
High-profile clubs like Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Manchester City are now battling to avoid early exits, with their clash this week taking center stage.
Both clubs, backed by immense financial powerhouses—Qatar for PSG and Abu Dhabi for City—find themselves in unfamiliar territory.
Two years after City’s Champions League triumph, they sit in 22nd place, having secured just one point from their last three games.
Meanwhile, PSG, last year’s semifinalists, lag further behind in 25th place.
Pressure on PSG and City
With only the top 24 advancing to the knockout phase, this match could determine the fate of both teams. A loss for PSG would leave them facing immense pressure in their final game against Stuttgart on January 29. City, though slightly better positioned, must also secure points to avoid humiliation.
This scenario is particularly damning for PSG’s president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, who championed the expanded Champions League format. Initially criticized for favoring elite clubs, the new system has unexpectedly exposed PSG and City to early elimination, compounded by tough draws.
Real Madrid and Fixture Congestion
Reigning champions Real Madrid are similarly precarious, sitting 20th with nine points. They face Red Bull Salzburg and Brest in their final games but will likely enter February’s play-offs, adding to a packed schedule.
With the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup looming in June, clubs like Real Madrid, PSG, and City face a congested calendar, unlike knockout-bound Liverpool and Barcelona, who can avoid February’s playoffs and have no Club World Cup obligations.
Outsiders Shine in Expanded Format
The expanded Champions League has provided opportunities for underdogs like Brest, poised to qualify for the knockouts. Meanwhile, Celtic could secure progress for the first time since 2013 with a home win against bottom-placed Young Boys.
As the pressure mounts on Europe’s elite, January’s matches will determine not only the Champions League’s immediate future but also the physical and tactical readiness of clubs heading into an unprecedented football calendar.
